main memory
<storage, architecture> The storage device used by a computer to hold the
currently executing program and its working data. A modern computer's main
memory is built from random access memory integrated circuits. In the old days
ferrite core memory was one popular form of main memory, leading to the use of
the term "core" for main memory.
Computers have several other sorts of memory, distinguished by their access
time, storage capicity, cost, and the typical lifetime or rate of change of the
data they hold. Registers in the CPU are fast, few, expensive and typically
change every few machine instructions. Other kinds are cache, PROM, magnetic
disk (which may be used for virtual memory) and magnetic tape.
(1996-11-04)
Nearby terms:
mainframe « mainframe programmer/analyst « main loop
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